Iran war: Is the German military caught in the crossfire?

The Bundeswehr is not a party to the war in Iran, but attacks from Iran have also hit German bases in the Middle East. For now, there is no plan to withdraw troops, but that could change. PoliticsGermanyIran war: Is the German military caught in the crossfire?Nina Werkhäuser03/06/2026March 6, 2026The Bundeswehr is not a party to the war in Iran, but attacks from Iran have also hit German bases in the Middle East. For now, there is no plan to withdraw troops, but that could change. https://p.dw.com/p/59un9Germany's Bundeswehr has some hundred soldiers stationed in the Middle EastImage: Neumann/Bundeswehr/dpa/picture allianceAdvertisementAfter the first military strikes by Israel and the US, Iran launched counterattacks that mainly targeted US military bases. But the German military, the Bundeswehr, is also stationed at some of the bases that were hit. One attack targeted a military base near Erbil in northern Iraq, while another struck a Bundeswehr base in Jordan, as was confirmed by a spokesperson for the Bundeswehr's Operational Command. No one was injured, as the soldiers were in protected positions or accommodations, and air defense systems intercepted the missiles and drones. "The German soldiers and contingents were not the immediate target," the German Defense Ministry said later. And the bases themselves are not operated by the German Bundeswehr, which is only "guest" there — along with troops from other nations, including the US. The Defense Ministry emphasized that precautions had been taken in good time to protect German soldiers in the Middle East. "Germany is not a party to the war, and the German military will not participate in this war," Defense Minister Boris Pistorius declared in the Bundestag, the lower house of parliament, on Wednesday. Bundeswehr is part of two Middle East missions But in view of the ongoing hostilities in the region, which do not appear to be abating, the question now arises: Should the approximately 500 German soldiers be withdrawn? The Bundeswehr is currently part of two military missions in the Middle East: More than 200 German soldiers and a German navy frigate are helping to secure Lebanon's maritime borders as part of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). That mission is intended to prevent weapons from being smuggled into Lebanon by sea. The Bundeswehr is also training soldiers in the Lebanese Navy. The mandate, which has been repeatedly extended by the Bundestag for almost 20 years, expires on June 30. Many now doubt whether it is viable for the mission to continue after that. In Iraq and Jordan, meanwhile, the Bundeswehr is participating in an international mission against the terrorist militia, the "Islamic State." The rather convoluted official name of this mission reflects the way it has been expanded several times since its inception in 2015: It is now called "Counter Daesh/Capacity Building Iraq/NATOMission Iraq." The official aim of this operation is to stabilize Iraq and prevent the resurgence of IS, which remains active in the region. This is being done partly by training local armed forces, which the German military is also involved in. The Bundeswehr's mission is focused on the Kurdish metropolis of Erbil in northern Iraq, with some advisors also working in the capital, Baghdad. Germany had already withdrawn some personnel from Erbil in mid-February when tensions between the US and Iran increased. Most of the German personnel involved in that mission are stationed at the Al-Asrak air base in Jordan. The Bundeswehr is also supporting the international mission with tanker aircraft and air transport, which could be useful if the Bundeswehr needs to withdraw its forces back to Germany quickly. The upper limit for the German contingent in Jordan and Iraq is 500 soldiers. Currently, there are "more than 200," the Defense Ministry said, though it does not want to provide more precise information. In January, the Bundestag extended the mandate for another year until January 31, 2027, and a spokesperson for the Bundeswehr's Operational Command told DW that no adjustments were currently planned.A defense stress test: How prepared is the German military?,To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Spreading the military too thin? The German government has so far left open the question of how the missions in the Middle East will continue. These are not the only international missions: According to the Defense Ministry, around 2,000 German soldiers are currently active "in 17 operations and recognized missions" on three continents. The Bundeswehr's many tasks have put it under considerable strain, and that has only been heightened by the threat to the German contingents in the Middle East, whose security is reassessed hourly by the Bundeswehr's Operational Command. For now, the most pressing question appears to be: What will happen to the UNIFIL mission off the Lebanese coast, whose mandate expires at the end of June? This article was originally written in German. While you're here: Every Tuesday, DW editors round up what is happening in German politics and society.